Our expert Steve Barrett has his say on how the Blues dismantled the Eagles in Perth.
Blues are back
Horribly out of form and severely depleted with six forced changes on the back of an embarrassing loss to Hawthorn, Carlton defied stacked odds to storm back into the eight with a stunning return to form, albeit at the expense of utterly uncompetitive West Coast.
Seeking to build on their preliminary final appearance last year, the Blues were sitting pretty in second place after round 16, before crashing to ninth spot before this weekend, conjuring just one win - against North Melbourne - from their previous six starts.
For Carlton, who leapfrogged ahead of Fremantle into eighth position with their commanding 65-point win at Optus Stadium, the equation is simple.
Beat St Kilda next week and a September berth is sealed.
If the Blues lose, they can still qualify if Port Adelaide beat the Dockers in Perth in the last fixture of the home-and-away season.
Carlton’s on-ball brigade had a field day, conjuring repeat entries which presented numerous opportunities for the Blues’ patched-up, second-string forward line, minus twin towers Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.
The only negative for the resurgent Blues was a left shoulder injury to Corey Durdin, who got tangled up in a Harvey Johnston tackle late in the third quarter.
Captain Marvel
Patrick Cripps boosted his hopes of a second Brownlow Medal by hauling the undermanned Blues on his back and producing a majestic midfield masterclass.
The Eagles threw everything at Cripps - starting with Harley Reid on him in a mouthwatering match-up, spending some time with Elliot Yeo going head-to-head and attempting to run Zane Trew as a tagger - but nothing worked.
Cripps finished with game-highs of 35 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 10 clearances, eight inside-50s, 12 score involvements and surely three Brownlow votes.
George Hewett went with him as the Blues’ engine room put their outclassed Eagles rivals to the sword, constantly outnumbering and outworking the home side at the source.</a
Makeshift forward line prospers
Injury presented opportunity for Carlton.
Usual defender Brodie Kemp, who entered the match with two goals from 41 AFL matches, tripled his career tally with a four-goal haul, mixed with strong marks and clever crumbs, after starting in attack in the absence of Curnow and McKay.
Matt Owies added three in a typically enterprising display. <a
One of the 179cm Owies’ goals came courtesy of a pack grab the smaller man took against Trew and Brady Hough. And Matthew Kennedy complemented a prolific display with a pair of goals.</a
Substitute Ashton Moir, on debut, slotted the goal of the day with a marvellous mid-air volley over his shoulder in the last term.
Carlton’s forward line will be stronger when Curnow and McKay return, but they showed they have some depth in their goalkicking reserves.